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The Christian Institute Effatha

July 8, 2014, 7:20 pm
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 The Christian Institute Effatha is a school for the deaf in Zoetermeer onOctober 17 1888 was established as the Christian Institute for the deaf Effatha by Prof. L. Lindeboom, Rev. J. Vonk and Rev. H. Basher.
Prof. L. Lindeboom struggled to find the right teachers to find. The  deaf students were given lessons in his own home. Only in 1891 was Effatha own building  Langebrug 87 in Leiden  . The growth of the number of students Effatha had to move to the former in 1899  orphanage "Bethel" by Rev. Eigeman, the Wolwevershaven to Dordrecht  . The students lived internally. The head of the school and his wife served as house parents. In 1902 Effatha moved to the property "Hainaut" Gravenstraat Dordrecht.
 
In 1926 Effatha bought a large area, Corner Burg and Arentsburg in Voorburg  , for over 100,000 guilders. The 97 students, 10 teachers, the house father and mother and eight servants moved to the new location. There was an auditorium that served as a theater and church. The students were given gifts from donors in Voorburg. Effatha received enough money from the government. Therefore, the foundation "Friends of Effatha" was established to raise funds. Today, this foundation gives money to charities such as schools for the deaf in developing countries.
 
During the Second World War, a coach house Corner Castle was destroyed. A portion of the building Arentsburg also was heavily damaged by a bomb. The auditorium was converted into an emergency hospital for the care of the wounded.

Thank you Maria for this nice Dutch cover.
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Aland 31.5.2014 - Summer Cat.

July 10, 2014, 4:38 am
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Buoyant, energetic, sly and pleasure seeking. Ammi Krogius’ animals always have human qualities. On this year’s summer stamp, Ammi has featured a cat with a fishing rod, fishing for dinner. 
"This motif came out of a sensation of sitting on a rock, angling. I was thinking of how much I enjoy the Åland archipelago”, Ammi explains.
Ammi Krogius is a trained ceramist and, together with her husband, she previously ran a pottery for 25 years in Provence. Since 1999, however, she resides in Mariehamn, and the animals that previously took form in clay can now be seen in her paintings.
"I find it difficult to limn people. Instead, I feature animals and give them human qualities,” Ammi explains. She sees her style as somewhat naïve and finds inspiration using her own imagination.“I want my paintings to tell a story, but it must be a positive story, not a sad one. This time, I chose a cat; I like cats. They are bon vivants, sly and wise, indeed, many of their qualities remind very much of us.”

Thank you Ella, for this lovely fdc from Aland issued on 31.5.2014.
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Sydney Opera House

July 10, 2014, 7:06 pm
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The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Situated on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour, close to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the facility is adjacent to the Sydney central business district and the Royal Botanic Gardens, between Sydney and Farm Coves.
Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the facility formally opened on 20 October 1973after a gestation beginning with Utzon's 1957 selection as winner of an international design competition. The NSW Government, led by Premier Joseph Cahill, authorised work to begin in 1958, with Utzon directing construction. The government's decision to build Utzon's design is often overshadowed by circumstances that followed, including cost and scheduling overruns as well as the architect's ultimate resignation.
The Opera House was formally opened by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on 20 October 1973. A large crowd attended. Utzon was not invited to the ceremony, nor was his name mentioned. The opening was televised and included fireworks and a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.

Thank you Maria.
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3.12.1983 Liechtenstein - 1984 Winter Olympics, Sarajevo

July 11, 2014, 9:46 pm
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The emblem displayed on the stamp on this cover symbolizes a stylized snowflake, as well as the embroidery produced in the Sarajevo region with the Olympic rings above. The stamp shown is but, one of a set of three issued by Liechtenstein in 1983 to advertise the  1984 Winter Olympics.

The 1984 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIV Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which took place from 8–19 February 1984 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, in present-day Bosnia-Herzegovina. Other candidate cities were Sapporo, Japan; and Gothenburg, Sweden. It was the first Winter Olympics and the second consecutive Olympics held in a Communist state, after the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union.

Thank you Merja.
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1.5.1986 Transkei - Aloe Pratensis

July 12, 2014, 7:33 pm
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The four lovely stamps on this cover issued at Mount Ayliff in the erstwhile state of Transkei represent the various kinds of Aloe pratensis prevalent in the area. Aloe pratensis is a small to medium sized Aloe. The plants are found growing in rocky outcroppings and grassland. Aloe pratensis flowers in habitat from June to October.

Distribution of Aloe pratensis is in the Eastern Cape,Transkei,Lesotho and Kwazulu-Natal.
Aloe pratensis (Rocky Meadow Aloe) - A small clustering aloe with 8 inch wide rosettes of upright gray leaves that have sharp pale reddish-brown spines along the leaf margins and white tubercles on the lower leaf surface. Each rosette can produce up to 4 unbranched flower spikes with white papery bracts and pale peach to yellow flowers, usually between early winter and mid spring. This aloe comes from the Eastern Cape Province and KwaZulu Natal in South Africa where it grows from sea level up to high elevations in the Drakensberg Mountians. The specific epithet 'pratensis' meaning "growing in a meadow" is unfortunate as this plant is more often found growing among and wedged between rocks.  

Thank you Maria for this lovely cover with the four pretty stamps.
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Powerlifter Kenta Sandvi

July 13, 2014, 11:39 pm
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One of Åland’s largest export items, physically speaking, powerlifter Kenta Sandvik, now adorns an Åland stamp for the first time. Photographer Daniel Eriksson tagged along to the gym, Kenta’s home turf. 

About 20 years ago, Kenneth ”Kenta” Sandvik first slunk into the gym behind a friend who was more comfortable in the gym. Today, he competes in 8 to 10 competitions every year. He has seven world and six European championship medals on his shelf and has a place in the International Powerlifting Federations Hall of Fame. 

“I began to compete to stay motivated. And I aimed at not always ending up last,” Kenta Sandvik says. 

He has now been competing since 2001. At close to 40, he sees no reason to scale down or put down his barbells.

“I still find it stimulating and I enjoy the strong sense of fellowship in our club. The only thing that could make me want to quit is if I hurt myself or lose the incentive.” 

For the sake of the anecdote, we should let you know that Kenta Sandvik works for Åland Post. Therefore, we are likely to have the strongest mail carrier in the world working for us. 

Thank you Ella.
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18.10.1973 -300th anniversary of Danish Royal Library

July 14, 2014, 6:45 pm
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The stamp printed in the Denmark shows St. Mark, from 11th Century Book of Dalby. It was issued to commemorate the  300th anniversary of Royal Library, in 1973.

The Royal Library in Copenhagen, Denmark, is the national library of Denmark and the university library of the University of Copenhagen. It is the largest library in the Nordic countries.
It contains numerous historical treasures; all works that have been printed in Denmark since the 17th century are deposited there. Thanks to extensive donations in the past the library holds nearly all known Danish printed works back to the first Danish book, printed in 1482.

The library was founded 1648 by King Frederik III who seeded it with a comprehensive collection of European works. It was opened to the public in 1793. In 1989 it was merged with the prestigious University Library (founded 1482) (UB1) and in 2005 it was merged with the Danish National Library for Science and Medicine (UB2), now the Faculty Library of Natural and Health Sciences. The official name of the organization as of 1 January 2006 is The Royal Library, the National Library of Denmark and Copenhagen University Library. In 2008 the Danish Folklore Archive was merged with The Royal Library. Open to anyone above the age of 18 with a genuine need to use the collections. Special rules apply for use of rare and valuable items.

Thank you Maria.
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Match Stick Industry in Transkei

July 15, 2014, 6:52 pm
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These four nice stamps on an appropriately designed first day cover depict the various processes in the Match Stick Industry in Transkei. 12c stamp depicts the process of peeling of logs. the 25c stamp shows how splint chopping is done. The 30c stamp displays the VPO machine that gathers the sticks. And finally the 50c stamp shows the match boxes being filled.

Thank you Maria.
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500th Anniversary of "Tirant lo Blanch"

July 16, 2014, 6:48 pm
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This is a lovely depiction on stamp and cover of the famous Spanish Novel 'Tirant lo Blanch'. The stamp issued on 19.6.1990 commemorates the 500thAnniversary of this novel.
'Tirant lo Blanch', a romance written by the Valencian knight Joanot Martorell and published in the city of Valencia in 1490. The title means "Tirant the White" and is the name of the main character in the romance.
Tirant lo Blanch tells the story of a medieval knight Tirant from Brittany who has a series of adventures across Europe in his quest. He joins in knightly competitions in England and France until the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire asks him to help in the war against the Ottoman Turks, an Islamic tribe of invaders threatening Constantinople, the capital and seat of the Empire. Tirant accepts and is made Megaduke of the Byzantine Empire and the captain of an army. He defeats the Turkish invaders and saves the Empire from destruction. Afterwards, he fights the Turks in many regions of the eastern Mediterranean and north Africa, but he dies just before he can marry the pretty heiress of the Byzantine Empire.
The loss of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 was considered at the time to be a major blow to Christian Europe. In writing his novel, Martorell perhaps rewrote history to fit what he wanted it to be - which in a way makes it a precursor of the present-day genre of alternate history.
The cover shows the Title page of the first Castilian-language translation of Tirant lo Blanc, printed in Valladolid by Diego de Gumiel.
Thank you Maria.
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Singapore 9.1.2014 - Year of the Horse

July 17, 2014, 6:50 pm
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Australia 21.11.1973 - 50th Anniversary of Regular Radio Broadcasting

July 18, 2014, 6:51 pm
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The stamp on this cover and the cover itself were issued to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Regular Radio Broadcasting in Australia.
Radio is a way of transmitting signals without wires. It uses electromagnetic radiation to transmit sounds made in one place to listeners in many places. Radio is also known as 'wireless telegraphy', or 'wireless', as earlier methods for sending signals (such as the telegraph and telephone) used wires. Australia adopted radio for communications at sea and in lighthouses, and wireless telegraphy gradually replaced the Overland telegraph which had been completed in 1872.
From the first public radio broadcast in 1923, public and domestic radio sets encouraged communities of listeners. Families and groups gathered around a wireless box or radiogram. Then as radios became cheaper and more portable – particularly with the introduction of transistor radios from the 1950s – personal radios became common, and individuals could listen according to their own preferences.
In December 1922, the Australian Government issued “The Regulations: radio laws for the amateur”. The first licensed broadcast station in Australia, under these new regulations, was 2CM, owned by Charles MacLurcan. The licence (number one) was signed by the Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Billy Hughes. Callsign 2CM is listed by the Federal Government as “Never to be Reissued”, in recognition of the pioneering achievements of Charles MacLurcan. 2CM was the first radio station in Australia to publish a regular program guide.

Thank you Maria.
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Faeroe Islands 21.2.1983 – Old Steam Ships

July 19, 2014, 6:51 pm
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The stamp on the cover is one of three depicting old steam ships. The First Day Cover, shows the "Arcturus"on the 700c stamp.   

In 1856, a small steam-powered cargo ship known as the Victor Emanuel set sail in the Mediterranean. Privately owned and operated, she weighed only 331 tons and spanned a mere 156 feet in length. For several years she was used exclusively on a route between England and Glasgow. However, when the Faro Islands began to emerge as an important industrial power, the Victor Emanuel and many other cargo ships served to transport the many imports the Faroe Islands needed. It was at this point that the Victor Emanuel was purchased by Koch and Henderson -- a Scottish shipping company. The new owners re-christened their ship the S.S. Arcturus ... named after the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere. Most vessels would make the hazardous journey to the Faroe Islands only in Spring and in late Summer. However, the rugged Arcturus made five to seven trips a year for over ten years. Even though she was the most reliable ship to service the Islands, her small size always put her at a disadvantage to the many larger cargo ships of her day. Thus, in 1867 the Arcturus was torn down and rebuilt into a vessel of much greater size. She then faithfully served the needs of the Faroe Islands for some twenty more years.


Both the Faeroe- and Iceland-stamp show two masts which date the source drawings to before 1872, the year in which "Arcturus" gained a third mast and new steam engine.  Koch & Henderson merged with two other shipping companies in 1867 to form DFDS (United Steamship Company), for whom "Arcturus" continued to sail on the Faeroes-Iceland run continually until 1870.  She collided with the British steamship "Savona" on 5th April 1887 and sank.  


Thank you Merja.
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Spain 11.12.1990 - European Tourism Year

July 20, 2014, 6:54 pm
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Mr Cardoso e Cunha, a member of the Commission, with the 18 Ministers
for Tourism of the Member States for the Community and the EFTA
countries in attendance, launched the European Tourism Year on 11 December in Strasbourg.

Proposed by the European Parliament and approved by the Council of
Ministers, 1990 was declared as the European Tourism Year.

Major national and Europe-wide events as well as projects and
competitions were planned to take place throughout the year in the 18
participating countries. The aim being to emphasize the economic and social
importance of a tourist industry. The colourful stamp issued by Spain on 11.12.1990 cleary underlines this aim.

Thank you Maria.
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Singapore 22.11.2013 - 50th anniversary of TV in Singapore.

July 21, 2014, 6:53 pm
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At 6pm sharp on Feb 15, 1963, a picture of the Singapore flag fluttering in the breeze appeared on more than 2,400 television sets around Singapore. For the thousands more gathered around these magic boxes for the momentous occasion, it must have been a sight to set their hearts fluttering as well.
Television had arrived in Singapore.

2013 marked the 50th anniversary of  TV in Singapore.
The first person to appear on screen was then Minister of Culture S. Rajaratnam, and he said with prescience:

"Tonight might well mark the start of a social and cultural revolution in our lives."

To celebrate TV broadcasting’s golden jubilee, SingPost released a stamp issue featuring Singapore’s TV journey over the last 50 years. Called 50 years of TV, this colourfully-illustrated set of five stamps showcases and chronicles the development of Singapore’s TV broadcasting landscape in the last 50 years. The stamps come in five denominations - 1stLocal, S$0.50, S$0.65, S$0.80 and S$1.10. 

Thanks a lotShashi. 
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Denmark 16.5.1974 - Pantomime Theatre in the Tivoli Garden’s in Copenhagen

July 23, 2014, 5:16 am
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This Danish stamp issue of 16.5.1974 depicts the delightful Pantomime Theatre in the Tivoli Garden’s in Copenhagen.
The Pantomime Theatre (Danish: Pantomimeteateret) is an open-air theatre located in the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark. As indicated by the name, it is primarily used for pantomime theatre in the classical Italian commedia dell'arte tradition which is performed daily. Besides this original function, the theatre leads a second life as a venue for ballet and modern dance.
The Pantomime Theatre is Tivoli's open-air silent stage (as depicted on the stamp). Every night, the Chinese Peacock Theatre presents a drama without words of the romantic love between Columbine and Harle-quin, with the foolish clown Pierrot as the eter-nal guardian of Columbine's virtue.
The pantomime came to Denmark from Italy in 1800 at a time when it was popular and widely performed all over Europe. Naturally, Tivoli also wished to introduce this attractive entertainment, and it has been a tradition in Tivoli since 1844.
As in silent movies, the humour is slapstick: blows and falls, silly mistakes and cunning rudeness. This is combined with graceful steps and a special sign language, which replaces dia-logue in Tivoli's pantomimes.
Many of the plays performed today are several hundred years old and date from the time when travelling troupes of actors toured Europe. Today, the Pantomime Theatre operates only in the summer season and for the rest of the year a majority of the performers are employed at the Royal Ballet.
Thank you Maria.
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Australia 20.4.1983 - Birthday of Her Majesty The Queen

July 23, 2014, 6:49 pm
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Czechoslovakia 4.2.1991 – 150th Anniversary of Steamboat Bohemia

July 24, 2014, 6:51 pm
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Martin from Prague sent me this FDC which commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the Czechoslovakian Steamboat Bohemia.

 The first steamboat in Bohemia is connected with two gentlemen: J. Andrews and J.J.Ruston. The ceremony during which the steamboat named BOHEMIA was launched and which was presided by J.J.Ruston himself took place in Karlín, Prague, in 1841. The boat was 38,8 m long and 4,9 m wide and it was built in a very modern way using the combination of wood and iron. The steamboat engine was brought from Greenwich. The precise positioning of the engine and masterfully manufactured construction of the boat resulted in an exceptionally low submergion – only 0,42 cm.

When BOHEMIA appeared in Dresden for the first time on 26th May 1841 the local Saxony boats were put of out operation as there was not enough water. BOHEMIA was able to take aboard travellers who were waiting in vain for a Saxony boat. The new steambaot soon became a sensation in Dresden and on the way back it was introduced to the Saxony royal court at Pillnitz Chateau.

BOHEMIA surprised the locals again when to the swimmers’ amazement „the steamboat steered into a narrow shipping channel which was carefully avoided by all swimmers and sailed through it unharmed“ (news from Sächsische Dorfzeitung from 29. 5. 1841). This very well illustrates the masterful design of the steamboat which can still be seen on the original drawing stored in the Technical Museum in Vienna. It has to be said though that the steamboat as it appears in the picture(s) is slightly adjusted conforming the art fashion of that time.

The regular cruise to Dresden took only a day downstream and BOHEMIA was on its route twice a week. The cruise usually did not start in Prague but in Obříství (a village not far from Mělník) as there was not enough water in the Vltava river and people had to use other means of transport to get to Prague from here.

On of the most famous passangers on BOHEMIA was the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen who travelled on the boat on 31st June 1841 and described the river cruise in the book A Poet's Bazaar.

Thank you Martin.
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Liechtenstein 11.11.2013 - Year of the Horse

July 25, 2014, 6:54 pm
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Liechtenstein post issued a postage stamp of Chinese Signs of the Zodiac seeking to draw special attention to the friendly relations between the Principality of Liechtenstein and the People’s Republic of China. This stamp and the special postmark is displayed on this maximum card given to me by my friend Merja.
The focus this year is on the sign of the Zodiac for the coming Chinese year: the “Year of the Horse”. 2014 is Year of the Horse and it began on January 31, 2014.
Since the People’s Republic of China was established in 1949 China has officially used the Gregorian calendar adopted from the West (counting the years from the birth of Christ). This replaced the Chinese calendar which had been in place for 2000 years, but which nowadays remains in use only for calculating traditional holidays such as the “Dragon Boat Festival”, the “Moon Festival” and the “Double Nine Festival”.
For followers of Chinese astrology it is also the calculation basis for identifying “favourable” days on which to hold feasts and celebrations. The traditional Chinese year always begins at the second new moon after the winter solstice, i.e. between21st January and 21st February.
Moreover, in a fixed annual cycle each year is assigned one of the twelve signs of the zodiac with its associated character traits. The Year of the Horse begins on 31st January 2014 and lasts until 18th February 2015. People born in the Year of the Horse are generally very popular. They may be considered restless, but always radiate geniality.
Horse people are active and energetic. They have plenty of sex-appeal and know how to dress. Horses love to be in the crowd, maybe that is why they can usually be seen in such occasions like concerts, theaters, meetings, sporting occasions, and of course, parties.
The horse is very quick-witted and is right in there with you before you have had the chance to finish what you are saying: he’s on to the thought in your mind even before you’ve expressed it.
In general, the Horse is gifted. But in truth they are really more cunning than intelligent – and they know that. That is probably why, most of the horse people lack confidence.
They plan their lives on a long-term basis, are clever and have a lot of artistic talent. Since the horse also represents financial security, a relatively peaceful year is to be expected.
The stamp appears as a silhouette produced by laser technology, an innovation being that the entire 4-stamp sheet has been cut out in the shape of a horse.
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SWA 17.9.1976 - State Hospitals

July 26, 2014, 6:58 pm
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South West Africa had two state hospitals in the Windhoek area in Namibia. These two hospitals are depicted on these 1976 stamps. The 15c stamp shows the hospital at Augustineum and the 20c stamp the one at Katutura. The name Katutura strangely means "where no one wants to live".

Thank you Maria.
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Australia 8.6.1983 - 50th Anniversary of Australian JAYCEES

July 27, 2014, 6:48 pm
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